Stay ConnectedThe Fighter Pilot Podcast explores the fascinating world of air combat: the aircraft, the weapons systems, the emerging technologies, and most importantly—the people.
Most episodes feature a guest who helps explain military aviation topics such from Vietnam shoot down stories to how AI is changing air combat.
If you love the roar of a high-speed flyby or are enamored by the poise and confidence of the brave men and women who fly, fix, and fight these amazing aircraft, then this show is for you!
Copyright: © E. Vincent Aiello, 2018
You might think that by now, in the early 2020's — with advanced satellites and unmanned aerial systems so prolific — that we wouldn't need to go through all the trouble of spending days preparing a pilot for a manned spy mission in the upper reaches of our atmosphere wearing what amounts to an astronaut suit in a plane that enjoys only a few knots between stalling and over speeding. Think again.
On this episode, retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Michael "Lips" Phillips explains why the 60-year-old Lockheed U-2 Dragon Lady remains in such high demand today, often times being tasked at the highest levels of government. As an aircraft series episode, Lips discusses the variants, armament (or not), and performance of this aircraft while also describing what it was like to fly, which began a day before the mission.
Past guest Tra "Fish" Calisch returns as cohost and helps answer listener questions on how search and rescue missions are initiated, whether Air Force aircraft could land on a carrier (they do have tail hooks, after all), and what sounds F/A-18 crews can hear in the jet when on an aircraft carrier flight deck.
Bumper music by Jaime Lopez / announcements by Clint Bell. This episode was produced by our friends at the MuscleCar Place Podcast Network.
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Few aircraft elicit such reverence and respect as those that can be counted on to respond at a moment's notice when a downed aviator or embattled ground unit cried for help. In the Vietnam conflict, the aircraft that provided hours of on-station time with dozens of weapons stations, and was responsible for saving hundreds of lives, was none other than the venerable Douglas A-1 Skyraider.
On this episode, former U.S. Air Force captain George Marrett joins us to cover the usual 'aircraft series' topics and goes deep on the Skyraider's "Sandy" mission in Vietnam, having flown nearly 200 such missions himself. George's extensive experiences are expertly captured in his many books on everything from the Sandy missions to test piloting and even Howard Hughes, which was adapted for the feature film, The Aviator, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Learn more about the Estrella Warbirds Museum in Paso Robles, CA here.
Mr. Paul Wood of the Warbird Heritage Foundation returns this week as guest co-host to describe flying his Skyraider and helps answer listener questions on rain intrusion in the cockpit, FOD concerns for jet engines, and service wings insignia.
Bumper music by Jaime Lopez / announcements by Clint Bell. This episode was produced by our friends at the MuscleCarPlace Podcast Network.
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Threats to military forces and infrastructure come from overt enemy actions, terrorist acts, and training accident, but mother nature poses a threat too. Packing the energy of dozens of nuclear weapons, a hurricane destroys almost everything in its path--whether military or civilian. And like any other threat, a clear understanding of the "enemy" is necessary.
On this episode, Lt Col (select) Mark Withee and Capt Garrett Black, both of the U.S. Air Force Reserve and members of the 53d Weather Reconnaissance Squadron based at Keesler AFB, Mississippi, join us to describe the nuances of flying into destructive storms to glean as much information about the storm's path and propensity to intensify. Far from haphazardly flying through a storm, the Hurricane Hunters' specially-modified WC-130 Hercules is perfectly suited for the mission.
Guest cohost Becky Shaw returns to the show to describe NOAA's hurricane flying and answer listener questions such as the impacts of weather on flying close air support, the firing of actual missiles in training, and the etymology of the word "pickle" in releasing air-to-ground stores.
Bumper music by Jaime Lopez / announcements by Clint Bell. This episode was produced by our friends at the MuscleCarPlace Podcast Network.
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A brief discussion on the American Volunteer Group with Sam Kleiner, author of Flying Tigers, The Untold Story of the American Pilots who Waged a Secret War Against Japan.
If you enjoy reading military aviation history, you'll enjoy this great book.
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Martin "Opus" Richard was a Massachusetts ANG F-15 pilot on September 11, 2001. Most of us are familiar with the events of that day and the thousands of lives lost, but what was it like for fighter pilots whose mission it was to stand alert and respond to threats against our nation? Opus reflects on this and the larger meaning of that fateful day.
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We're taking a break after cranking out four episodes for Army Aviation Month in August. Instead, former Air-to-Air Weapons guest and occasional cohost Trevor "Boat" Boswell returns to help clear out some of the many listener questions that accrued.
Ever wonder about Mode 1 carrier landings, what pilots eat before extended overwater flights, and whether military aircraft distress frequencies? All that and more is here in this intermission episode...
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Retired U.S. Navy Commander Guy "Bus" Snodgrass, our former Air-to-Air Mission Planning episode guest, returns to the show to update us on his latest book project: TOPGUN's Top 10: Leadership Lessons from the Cockpit.
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'Army Aviation Month' wraps up with an in-depth look at the lethal AH-64 Apache. CWO4 Tim "Dorothy" Settle of the U.S. Army joins us to discuss this tank-busting helicopter including the variants, armament, performance, crew operation, and more. Designed for the Cold War, the Apache has enjoyed tremendous success in numerous conflicts from Desert Storm to Afghanistan.
Bumper music by Jaime Lopez / announcements by Clint Bell. This episode was produced by The MuscleCar Place Podcast Network.
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'Army Aviation Month' marches on with a shift to our familiar 'aircraft series' format and a look at the OH-58 Kiowa. Ryan Robicheaux, a former U.S. Army CWO2, joins us to discuss this helicopter that is small in stature but huge in capability and adored by the ground forces it defends. Ryan also discusses the many OH-58 military and civilian variants, as well as the somewhat unconventional plan to replace it.
Check out Ryan's Scout's Out book project here.
Bumper music by Jaime Lopez / announcements by Clint Bell. This episode was produced by The MuscleCar Place Podcast Network.
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'Army Aviation Month' continues with a look at U.S. Army flight school--including the syllabus, aircraft, and training locations--with CWO2 Nicholas Allen. As a recent Army flight school graduate, Nick now flies the UH-60 and provided some additional information on the Blackhawk to compliment our previous H-60 episode.
Bumper music by Jaime Lopez / announcements by Clint Bell. This episode was produced by The MuscleCar Place Podcast Network.
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